The Gravitational Universe

Illuminating the dark universe with a new astronomy

LISA: A New Astronomy

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

Artist's impression of LISA satellite. Credit: AEI/MM/exozet

The LISA Mission Homepage

LISA & LISA Pathfinder

LISA will be a large-scale space mission designed to detect one of the most elusive phenomena in astronomy - gravitational waves. With LISA we will be able to observe the entire universe directly with gravitational waves, learning about the formation of structure and galaxies, stellar evolution, the early universe, and the structure and nature of spacetime itself. The LISA proposal for the L3 mission slot was accepted by ESA in June 2017 and the mission is currently in the first planning stages.

Good night, LISA Pathfinder

LISA Pathfinder has been switched off as planned on the evening of 18th of July, ending its successful mission which surpassed all expectations.

After 16 months of science measurements an international team deactivated the LISA Pathfinder satellite on the evening of the 18th of July 2017. The gravitational-wave laboratory in space powered down after receiving the last commands in the evening and circles the Sun on a safe parking orbit. LISA Pathfinder has tested key technologies for LISA, the future gravitational-wave observatory in space, and has demonstrated their operative readiness. LISA is scheduled to launch into space in 2034 as an ESA mission and will “listen” to the entire Universe by measuring low-frequency gravitational waves.